Tobacco Exposure during Pregnancy and Childhood: Speeding up Aging and Increasing Risk of Chronic Diseases

A research published in the journal Science Advances has shown that exposure to tobacco during pregnancy and smoking in childhood can speed up aging and increase the likelihood of developing lung diseases, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Scientists from Chinese and British universities analyzed blood samples from 276,000 individuals from the United Kingdom Biobank to better understand the effects of tobacco exposure on both chronological and biological aging.

The study revealed that individuals who were exposed to tobacco in utero were biologically older by 0.49 years than their chronological age, with shorter telomeres being linked to aging. Those who started smoking in childhood (ages 5-14) were biologically older by 2.51 years and had significantly shorter telomeres as well.

Researchers emphasized the importance of quitting smoking early to slow down biological aging and lower the risk of related diseases, regardless of genetics. They also suggested that early exposure to tobacco can accelerate the onset of chronic diseases and increase the risk of premature death. The study showed that quitting smoking at an early age can help prevent the accelerated aging brought about by tobacco exposure and reduce the risk associated with it.

Overall, this study highlights the significant impact that tobacco exposure can have on our bodies, even before we are born or start smoking as children. It underscores the need for smokers to quit early in order to improve their health outcomes and reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases later in life.